2008 Woodie Awards
Hookah lounge has early success
'Chuck's' debuts on the square
Mike Cedeno
Issue date: 9/4/08 Section: Entertainment
The building that housed the old Graham Street Café has a new occupant. Chuck's Hookah Lounge opened on Wednesday, Aug. 27, and has seen a dose of early success.
"We have had steady business ever since we opened and it's growing every night," said lounge owner Charlie "Chuck" Graham. He opened the hookah bar with expectations of an environment where customers can come in and study or just relax.
"I want them [customers] to have something different to do in this town. I want them to relax and study if they want, or catch a football game, if it's on."
According to www.hookahhookah.com, hookah is a special blend of dark leaves, fruit pulp, honey or molasses and glycerin and is often called "sheesha." It is smoked through a water pipe and filtered through water in the base of the hookah. Sheesha comes in all different flavors from cola to pomegranate. The tobacco is only 0.5 percent nicotine and contains no tar. The taste can be enhanced by adding ice to the water, or replacing it with other liquids such as milk or fruit juice.
Graham grew up in Georgetown, a suburb north of Austin and that is where his idea blossomed.
"I used to go there [to hookah bars] all the time in Austin, almost every college town has one, so I thought it would be a profitable idea," Graham said. "This is more of a country town and it's a change from the 'country music scene' for those who want something else to do."
Opening a hookah bar in Stephenville isn't just a run-of-the-mill business endeavor, some special interest lies in the decision.
"One of my best friends growing up bought one [a hookah] for 10 dollars and since then my interest in hookah has just been growing," Graham said.
Chuck's Hookah Lounge houses 25 hookahs in all, 20 one-hosed hookahs and five that are two-hosed. There are five more two-hosed hookahs on the way. The lounge also features a 15-foot projector screen that plays football games, other sporting events and displays the PlayStation 3 game play. Dr Pepper and water are available for purchase for the parched. Free Wi-Fi is also available in the bar.
Once the management finishes the process of checking the legalities of bringing alcohol into the establishment, the lounge may offer "bring your own beer" nights on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Live music is also a possibility in the future. A live show is possibly in the making for either Sept. 19 or 20.
Everyone above the age of 18 is welcome to Chuck's Hookah Lounge, which is located at 119 S. Graham Street and is open from 6 p.m. - 12 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 6 p.m. - 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information contact the lounge at (254) 572-1918.
"We have had steady business ever since we opened and it's growing every night," said lounge owner Charlie "Chuck" Graham. He opened the hookah bar with expectations of an environment where customers can come in and study or just relax.
"I want them [customers] to have something different to do in this town. I want them to relax and study if they want, or catch a football game, if it's on."
According to www.hookahhookah.com, hookah is a special blend of dark leaves, fruit pulp, honey or molasses and glycerin and is often called "sheesha." It is smoked through a water pipe and filtered through water in the base of the hookah. Sheesha comes in all different flavors from cola to pomegranate. The tobacco is only 0.5 percent nicotine and contains no tar. The taste can be enhanced by adding ice to the water, or replacing it with other liquids such as milk or fruit juice.
Graham grew up in Georgetown, a suburb north of Austin and that is where his idea blossomed.
"I used to go there [to hookah bars] all the time in Austin, almost every college town has one, so I thought it would be a profitable idea," Graham said. "This is more of a country town and it's a change from the 'country music scene' for those who want something else to do."
Opening a hookah bar in Stephenville isn't just a run-of-the-mill business endeavor, some special interest lies in the decision.
"One of my best friends growing up bought one [a hookah] for 10 dollars and since then my interest in hookah has just been growing," Graham said.
Chuck's Hookah Lounge houses 25 hookahs in all, 20 one-hosed hookahs and five that are two-hosed. There are five more two-hosed hookahs on the way. The lounge also features a 15-foot projector screen that plays football games, other sporting events and displays the PlayStation 3 game play. Dr Pepper and water are available for purchase for the parched. Free Wi-Fi is also available in the bar.
Once the management finishes the process of checking the legalities of bringing alcohol into the establishment, the lounge may offer "bring your own beer" nights on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Live music is also a possibility in the future. A live show is possibly in the making for either Sept. 19 or 20.
Everyone above the age of 18 is welcome to Chuck's Hookah Lounge, which is located at 119 S. Graham Street and is open from 6 p.m. - 12 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 6 p.m. - 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information contact the lounge at (254) 572-1918.
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